the blog of LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange

Citizen dialog for transparent process

SCLC

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

It may have been a civil rights violation. But let's talk about human rights violations. That young man was a human, and he deserved his human rights to be expected. And until we as a people — a people, black, white, Latino — come together and demand our human rights, this will continue to happen.

That young man didn't deserve this because he was black. He didn't deserve it because he was a human.

But they didn't even respect basic human rights basic American rights....

Ladies and gentlemen, we must write, we must continue to march, we must continue to speak, not amongst ourselves. Tonight I ask when you go home look to the right of you, to the left of you. I mean the houses to the right of you, the houses to the left of you. Ask them where they were tonight. Ask them what their thoughts are. What if it would have been their child. They would have been here. They would have been appalled if you were not here....

Don't be afraid to talk to your white colleagues, don't be afraid to talk to your hispanic colleagues. There's nothing to be ashamed of to be out here and to demand, to demand your basic human rights.

Monday, 26 March 2012

The bird that could speak nine languages —Rev. Floyd Rose Sanford Florida where 17 year Trayvon was murdered, and the killer has not been arrested, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 March 2012. Video by George Boston Rhynes for bostongbr on YouTube.

Several protesters wore hooded sweat shirts, held boxes of Skittles and cans of iced tea. They asked if those items made them appear suspicious as well.

More excerpts:

"That this community and every community in this country will continue to press for Mr. Zimmerman's arrest and conviction," Rev. Rose told Gullberg.

The news that Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee temporarily stepped down sparked new life into the rally.

"We all know that he botched the investigation. He did not even arrest Mr. Zimmerman, which would have been standard practice," said Rev. Rose.

"I think the story is still kind of broad right now, people want to know what's happened. So I'm actually happy about the crowd that came out today," Valdosta State University NAACP Chapter President DeAndre Jones told Gullberg.

Please join me and SCLC at the Courthouse in Valdsota at 6:30 for a "Justice for Trayvon Martin" rally Thursday, March 22nd. Thousands of people all over the United States will be gathering, including thiousands in Sanford Florida where 17 year Trayvon was murdered, and the killer has not been arrested.

Saturday, 25 February 2012

The Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials (GABEO) is holding
its general meeting in Quitman this weekend in support of the Quitman 10.
The big public event is this afternoon:

3:00 p.m. March for Justice to End Voter Intimidation and Voter Suppression (March from Shumate Street Church of Christ to Brooks County Courthouse)

In this video, George Rhynes interviews Rev. Floyd Rose about
how GABEO heard about the Quitman 10+2.
Rev. Rose also expresses hope that the local media will announce the GABEO meeting.
(The VDT did have a story on it the other day, although it doesn't seem to be online.)
Amont many other points, he notes that the school board members of the
Quitman 10 were elected mostly by white voters in Brooks County.

3PM today in Quitman: GABEO March for Justice to End Voter Intimidation and Voter Suppression
March for Justice to End Voter Intimidation and Voter Suppression,
Meeting in Quitman to support the Quitman 10+2, Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials (GABEO),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 25 February 2012.
Videos by George Boston Rhynes for K.V.C.I., the bostongbr on YouTube.

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

The "unification" attack on the public schools in Valdosta and Lowndes
County, Georgia is part of a nationwide assault on public schools,
which has nothing to do with improving
public education, and everything to do with private profit and private schools: disaster capitalism right here at home.
And it's not government causing our local disaster: it's local business interests.
What should we do about that?

Critics of America’s public schools always seem to start from the
premise that the pre-kindergarten-through-12th-grade public education
system in this country is failing or in crisis.

This crisis mentality is in stark contrast to years of survey research
showing that Americans generally give high marks to their local
schools. Phi Delta Kappa International and Gallup surveys have found that
the populace holds their neighborhood schools in high regard; in fact,
this year’s survey found that “Americans, and parents in particular,
evaluate their community schools more positively than in any year since”
the survey started.

The first factor: New austerity budgets passed by state legislatures
are starting to have a huge influence on direct services to children,
youth, and families.

Monday, 24 October 2011

Valdosta, Lowndes County and other concerned citizens marched from the
Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce building through downtown
to Rev. Martin L. King Jr., Monument. There were many speeches given
along with the sharing of ideas at this historic event. The marchers
were lead by Valdosta Police Department and eneded in peace as we all
expected in our beloved community. Peace!
-George Boston Rhynes

George Rhynes talks to No Consolidation marchers
No school consolidation,
Vote No for Consolidation March, Friends of Valdosta City Schools (FVCS),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 October 2011.
Videos by George Rhynes for bostongbr on YouTube.

There's a mousetrap in the house --Rev. Floyd Rose @ Vote No for Consolidation March 22 October 2011
No school consolidation,
Vote No for Consolidation March, Friends of Valdosta City Schools (FVCS),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 October 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman and John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Friday, 21 October 2011

Only Lemony Snicket could do justice to the peculiarity
of last night's
most educational meeting at VSU's Continuing Education building,
about K-12 education even though neither school superintendent was there,
most of the school board members were not present,
and it was presided over by two very uneasy college presidents.

Who called it was unclear, who was invited even less, for what purpose
there was no consensus, yet there was a decision
by the pair of presiding college presidents.
It was somehow
about the general state of education in Valdosta and Lowndes County, Georgia,
although the topic of consolidation was discussed only by the frequent
admonitions that it was not to be discussed, and for that matter that
nothing else related to educational improvements should be discussed
until after the November 8th consolidation referendum.
Both school system superintendents were elsewhere
at a conference of school superintendents.
A few Valdosta City School Board members were in attendance, although none of them
said anything.
I didn't recognize any Lowndes County School Board members.
There were no introductions to the group, other than self-introductions by the
two college presidents.
Maybe you can identify some of the attendees.

CUEE Vice-Chair Rusty Griffin near left, Chamber President Myrna Ballard far right,
VBOE Member Jeana Beeland and CUEE Board Member Tom Kurrie near corner of the tables,
SCLC President Rev. Floyd Rose to Kurrie's right.
FVCS President Sam Allen is near the far end of the left side of the table.
CUEE Board Member Walter Hobgood is near the far end of the right side of the table.

There was no agenda.
There was a document to be presented,
but it was not handed out to the attendees,
and the principal presider, VSU interim president Dr. Louis Levy,
refused